The Blog of a Female French Soldier: Brielle Jaquette
My name is Brielle Jaquette and I am a French frontline soldier. No nursing for me. I would never be cut out for it. I've decided to pose as my "twin" brother, Laurent. This is a picture of me before the war. I'm on the far left and my mother is in the front followed both my sisters on either side of her. This is a picture of me in my soldier uniform. I have many family that are probably missing me right now. I didn't tell them what I've done and I won't until this d*mned war is over.
March 4, 1916
I have a story to tell and a hope that you will believe it. I dearly hope that I'm not found out or that my family will be disgraced by what I've done. I've snuck into the army. The life of a nurse was not going to be the life for me. I learned that as soon as my older sister,Bernice, came home to say that she was to become a nurse for the French army. My parents were so proud of her. I wasn't long before my other older sister,Sophie, enlisted as a nurse too. My parents were exstatic that they would join the cause. My father,I'm sure, felt a twinge of jealousy at the two of them. Due to an old injury from his job he was unable to join the French Army. I was the only one, my sisters had already left to take up their jobs on the countryside taking care of the injured men. I could see it in my fathers face, he was disappointed that I had no interest to become a nurse. To tell you the truth I used to the be pretty scweemish around anything bloody or gross. Notice I say used...I used to be scweemish. That was before I came into this war. I won't tell you how I came to get into the war, or all the strange things I did to run away and enlist. I don't want this to fall into the wrong hands and have them know all the personal details. I think if I would've known beforehand what the experiances here would've been like I wouldn't have joined, but I have and now that I'm here I can't say that I'm upset with my choice. I knew I wouldn't make a good nurse, but at least I know I can try to make a good soldier!
May 8, 1916
I have been worrying exstensively for days now. Any slip up and I could be caught by my fellow soldiers. I won't pretend that I'm one of them, but I must say we all share a common enemy and we are all here for the same reason. We dispise the Gemans and we will not stand for their actions. We will take back our lands and we will defend our people to the very end! If I die here or if I am found out, at least they can't say I wasn't brave enough to stand against them or to try. I went over the top just as readily as the next man. The things I'm doing here will make a difference some how. I just know it in my heart that my father knows where I've gone and I hope to God that he is proud.
August 5, 1916
Today was my father's birthday and I am guilty that I will not be there to wish him happy birthday on his special day. Today was not so special for me though not like I had wished it would be. I must say that despite my best efforts to avoid any unwanted friendships I've made friends. Two young men just about my sister, Bernice's, age.(20) They were very kind and just as rowdy as any other men I've seem. Both were just as new as I was and they are both easy to talk to. It's shocking how much everyone here has in common despite the many differences of this war. The two young men are Marcel, a fellow Frenchman, and Frederick, from England.(He's asked that we call him Freddie) It's much easier to be out here on the front lines everyday now that I excepted their friendship. Now not only do I worry of being exposed, but I worry what I'll do if I lose my new friends.
August 28, 1916
Freddie was shot last night in an attempt to over take the enemy trench. I was so mad that Frederick got himself shot. He shouldn't have tried to cover for me when I fell. I feel so guilty. Marcel has been trying to assure me all night it seems. I fear I'll soon give myself away with all this crying and carrying on. Though I think now if Marcel knows he doesn't show it. He just takes it as it comes. He's been saying that Freddie will be fine and when this war is over we'll go visit him together. I've been thinking all this morning that if he is in the hospitals being treated, maybe he's got one of my sisters for his nurse!
November 14, 1916
A lot has happened since I last wrote. Marcel and I were contacted weeks ago by Freddie. He says that his recovery is slow and painful. And that he worries about our safety without being there in person. We both got a bit of a laugh outta that one. He's always been a bit of nanny goat. Maybe he'd be suspected for a women before me with the way he acts. He's always said it was because he is the oldest and that's really what big brothers do...take care of the younger brothers.(not exactly in my case though)
December 19, 1916
It's official that we(Freddie and I) will be spending Christmas on the front. Marcel has healed nicely and should be back after Christmas. We both were so exstatic to hear. It will be a pleasure to see him again. We miss our big Nanny Goat!!!
The Blog of a Female French Soldier: Brielle Jaquette
March 4, 1916
I have a story to tell and a hope that you will believe it. I dearly hope that I'm not found out or that my family will be disgraced by what I've done. I've snuck into the army. The life of a nurse was not going to be the life for me. I learned that as soon as my older sister,Bernice, came home to say that she was to become a nurse for the French army. My parents were so proud of her. I wasn't long before my other older sister,Sophie, enlisted as a nurse too. My parents were exstatic that they would join the cause. My father,I'm sure, felt a twinge of jealousy at the two of them. Due to an old injury from his job he was unable to join the French Army. I was the only one, my sisters had already left to take up their jobs on the countryside taking care of the injured men. I could see it in my fathers face, he was disappointed that I had no interest to become a nurse. To tell you the truth I used to the be pretty scweemish around anything bloody or gross. Notice I say used...I used to be scweemish. That was before I came into this war. I won't tell you how I came to get into the war, or all the strange things I did to run away and enlist. I don't want this to fall into the wrong hands and have them know all the personal details. I think if I would've known beforehand what the experiances here would've been like I wouldn't have joined, but I have and now that I'm here I can't say that I'm upset with my choice. I knew I wouldn't make a good nurse, but at least I know I can try to make a good soldier!
May 8, 1916
I have been worrying exstensively for days now. Any slip up and I could be caught by my fellow soldiers. I won't pretend that I'm one of them, but I must say we all share a common enemy and we are all here for the same reason. We dispise the Gemans and we will not stand for their actions. We will take back our lands and we will defend our people to the very end! If I die here or if I am found out, at least they can't say I wasn't brave enough to stand against them or to try. I went over the top just as readily as the next man. The things I'm doing here will make a difference some how. I just know it in my heart that my father knows where I've gone and I hope to God that he is proud.
August 5, 1916
Today was my father's birthday and I am guilty that I will not be there to wish him happy birthday on his special day. Today was not so special for me though not like I had wished it would be. I must say that despite my best efforts to avoid any unwanted friendships I've made friends. Two young men just about my sister, Bernice's, age.(20) They were very kind and just as rowdy as any other men I've seem. Both were just as new as I was and they are both easy to talk to. It's shocking how much everyone here has in common despite the many differences of this war. The two young men are Marcel, a fellow Frenchman, and Frederick, from England.(He's asked that we call him Freddie) It's much easier to be out here on the front lines everyday now that I excepted their friendship. Now not only do I worry of being exposed, but I worry what I'll do if I lose my new friends.
August 28, 1916
Freddie was shot last night in an attempt to over take the enemy trench. I was so mad that Frederick got himself shot. He shouldn't have tried to cover for me when I fell. I feel so guilty. Marcel has been trying to assure me all night it seems. I fear I'll soon give myself away with all this crying and carrying on. Though I think now if Marcel knows he doesn't show it. He just takes it as it comes. He's been saying that Freddie will be fine and when this war is over we'll go visit him together. I've been thinking all this morning that if he is in the hospitals being treated, maybe he's got one of my sisters for his nurse!
November 14, 1916
A lot has happened since I last wrote. Marcel and I were contacted weeks ago by Freddie. He says that his recovery is slow and painful. And that he worries about our safety without being there in person. We both got a bit of a laugh outta that one. He's always been a bit of nanny goat. Maybe he'd be suspected for a women before me with the way he acts. He's always said it was because he is the oldest and that's really what big brothers do...take care of the younger brothers.(not exactly in my case though)
December 19, 1916
It's official that we(Freddie and I) will be spending Christmas on the front. Marcel has healed nicely and should be back after Christmas. We both were so exstatic to hear. It will be a pleasure to see him again. We miss our big Nanny Goat!!!
ARTICLES Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3: